Reversible lock guard for in-swinging doors



July 16, 1968- .1... mo-mpson REVERSIBLE LOCK GUARD FOR INSWINGING DOORS Filed Nov. 17, 1966 Eugene L. T/wmpsan IN VENTOR.

Anon" United States Patent 3,392,999 REVERSIBLE LOCK GUARD FOR IN-SWINGING DOORS Eugene L. Thompson, 70-151 Avenue 39, Cathedral City, Calif. 92234 Filed Nov. 17, 1966, Ser. No. 595,233 3 Claims. (Cl. 292-346) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A lock guard including a mounting flange which overlies the jamb face of a door in surrounding relation to the keeper plate and a blocking flange perpendicular to the mounting flange. The blocking flange includes two oppositely directed blocking portions of different widths so as to correspond to different thickness stop strips upon a reversing of the guard, the blocking flange portion not overlying the strip being embedded within the jamb.

The present invention enerally relates to means for preventing forced entry through a door, and more particularly is concerned with a lock guard providing an effective barrier to access to the lock or latch bolt from the exterior of an iii-swinging door.

It has been found that a substantial number of illegal entries through doors of the type that swing inwardly is effected by the insertion of a wedging instrument, such as a crowbar or the like, behind the conventionally furnished doorstop strip mounted on the inner face of a doorjamb so as to define a combination doorstop and seal. The doorstop is thus pried away from the jamb and the tool inserted between the edge of the door and the jamb itself in a manner so as to forcibly retract the latch or lock bolt sufficiently so as to clear the keeper and release the lock.

It is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a lock guard which will effectively prevent a forced access to the lock bolt through the doorstop.

In conjunction with this object, it is a highly significant object of the instant invention to provide a uniquely formedlock guard which is in effect reversible in nature so as to enable its utilization alternatively with either of two most conventional size doorstop strips.

Likewise, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide a lock guard which is capable of being mounted in a manner whereby there will be no interference with the operation of the lock in the normal manner.

In addition, a significant object of the instant invention resides in the provision of a complete barrier against access to the latch bolt even should the doorstop be pried loose from the jamb, the lock guard being itself independently mounted on the jamb in surrounding relation to the bolt keeper or striker plate.

Basically, in achieving the above objects, it is contemplated that lock guard of the instant invention, formed of an appropriate extruded rigid material such as metal or plastic, include a mounting flange which overlies the jamb face in surrounding relation to the keeper plate and a blocking flange perpendicular to the mounting flange and defined by two different width blocking portions. The blockin portion corresponding to the thickness of the particular stopping strip will overlie the inner or abutting face of the stop while the other blocking portion will be completely embedded within the jamb so as to effect a positive anchoring of the lock guard and a complete barrier against access to the lock bolt.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details 3,392,999 Patented July 16, 1968 of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the lock guard comprising the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the portion of a door-jamb upon which the keeper or striker plate of a lock set is mounted, with the guard of the instant invention being mounted in operative position;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional View through the mounted guard with the shorter of the two blocking flange portions being anchored within a jamb recess; and

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG- URE 3 illustrating the reversible nature of the lock guard for use with a narrower doorstop.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the lock guard of the instant invention is generally designated by reference numeral 10. This lock guard 10 is of a length substantially greater than that of the keeper or striker plate 12 with which it is to be used so as to extend a distance both vertically thereabove and vertically therebelow as illustrated in FIGURE 2.

The lock guard 10 includes an elongated mounting flange 14 and a full length blocking flange 16 integrally secured to the mounting flange 14 along one edge thereof and at right angles thereto. The blocking flange 16 projects perpendicularly beyond both sides of the mounting flange 14 so as to define two blocking portions 18 and 20. These blocking portions 18 and 20 are of different widths so as to be adaptable for use in conjunction with doorstops 22 of two different thicknesses, the two sizes most frequently used being and /2". Accordingly, in the preferred embodiment of the lock guard 10, one flange portion 18 will project beyond the corresponding face of the mounting flange 14, /8" while the wider flange portion 20 will project, from the corresponding side of the mounting flange 14, /2".

The mounting flange 14 itself has a vertically elongated recess 24 extending inwardly from the free outer edge thereof, this recess 24 being of a length so as to easily accommodate the keeper plate 12 therein as illustrated in FIGURE 2. Further, it will be noted that the recess 24 terminates short of the blocking flange 16 so as to leave a full length lip or rib 26 which acts so as to rigidify the blocking flange 16 between the upper and lower full width mounting flange portions 28, these mounting flange portions 28 in effect defining mounting lugs which include screw receiving apertures 30' therethrough.

In actual use, the inner face 32 of the door jamb 34 will be provided with an elongated recess 36 of a length, width and depth corresponding to the blocking flange portion which does not correspond to the particular stop 22 being utilized. The appropriate blocking flange portion will then be snugly received within the recess 36, this preferably being a tight friction fit, even to the extent requiring a driving of the flange portion therein. With the blocking flange portion thus received within the recess 36, the mounting flange 14 overlies the jamb face 32 and is in fact preferably seated within a depression or mortised portion 38 within the face of the jamb 34 so as to present an outer surface flush with the jamb face 32. Upon being so positioned, appropriate driven fasteners 40 are extended through the openings 30 provided in the mounting flange portions or lugs 28 and suitably anchored into the jamb 34. These driven fasteners will preferably comprise flat headed wood screws seated within the apertures 30 countersunk on the appropriate side of the mounting flange 14 upon a determination as to which is to constitute the outer surface of the flange 14. As will be appreciated, the mounting flange recess 24, provides an ap- 3 propriate opening for the mounting of the strike plate 12 in the conventional manner, such striker plates also normally being seated within a recess defined in the jamb face 32.

Finally, so as not to interfere with the proper seating of the door 42 against the doorstop 22, the inner or abutment face 44 of the doorstop 22 is also provided with a depression or recess 46 within which the appropriate blocking flange portion seats or is received so as to thus provide a coplanar continuation of the doorstop abutment face 44, the outer corners of the flange portions 18 and 20 being rounded so as to correspond to the rounded outer edges of the stop 22.

With the lock guard mounted in this manner, it will be appreciated that the operation of the door 42, as well as the lock thereon, in the normal manner will not be affected in any way, nor will the normally desired close tolerances between the door and jamb face require any modification or change inlight of the flush mounting of the guard 10. Once the guard 10 has been mounted, it will be recognized that any tool inserted between the doorstop 22 and the face 32 of the jamb 34 will be-effectively blocked for further movement toward the latch or lock bolt 48. The blocking flange 16 which extends from the outer limit of-the doorstop 22 inward of the inner face 32 of the jamb 34 a substantial distance will provide an effective barrier to any further continued inward movement of a prying tool. Further, this blocking flange 16 is effectively rigidified by the mounting flange lip or rib 26 which extends between the upper and lower mounting flange lugs 28. Inasmuch as the lock guard is effectively mounted tothe jamb face independent of the stop 22, it will also 'be appreciated that an elfective guarding of the lock bolt 48 will be provided even upon a complete removal of the doorstop 22 within the vicinity of the keeper plate 12. By the same token, any attempt to remove the lock guard itself will, because of the recessed nature of one of the blocking flange portions, present a ditficult and time-consuming task, thereby effectively discouraging any sneak thief or housebreaker.

As noted above, it is contemplated that the lock guard of the instant invention be constructed of any suitable rigid metal or plastic with the guard being extruded as an integral unit. Of particular significance is the adaptability of the guard 10 to use in conjunction with doorstops 22 of two different thicknesses, this being accomplished through the provision of a blocking flange 16 which is defined by two coplanar oppositely projecting blocking flange portions, either of which is adapted to overlie an appropriate doorstop while the other provides a barrier laterally into the jamb itself so as to effectively prevent the passage of any prying tool behind the lock guard such as could conceivably be effected were only an outwardly directed blocking flange portion provided.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. For use as a means for preventing access to a lock bolt through a jamb mounted closure stop, a lock guard, said lock guard comprising a mounting flange mountable in overlying relation to the inner face of a jamb in the vicinity of a keeper means located thereon, and a blocking flange integrally fixed along one edge of said mounting flange at generally right angles thereto so as to lie in a plane paralleling the abutment face of a jamb mounted stop, said blocking flange projecting laterally different distances beyond both sides of said mounting flange so as to define a pair of unequal width blocking portions, said blocking portions being of the same thickness and generally rectangular in cross-section, one of said blocking portions being adapted to overlie the abutment face of the stop, with the other of said blocking portions being receivable within a seating recess defined in the corresponding jamb whereby said blocking flange will span the joining surfaces between the stop and jamb and prevent the insertion of an article therebetween, said lock guard being reversible so as to enable a selective positioning of either of the two different width blocking portions in overlying relation to the stop, depending on the thickness of the specific stop involved, said mounting flange having an enlarged recess defined centrally therein, said recess terminating in spaced relation to the one edge to which the blocking flange is secured so as to retain a rib-like outwardly projecting portion of said mounting flange along the full length of said recess between said recess and said blocking flange.

2. The lock guard of claim 1 wherein said blocking flange is of a length coextensive with said mounting flange and has a smooth imperforate outer face thereon opposite from said mounting flange.

3. In combination, a jamb, an inner face on said jamb, an elongated closure stop mounted longitudinally along said jamb face, said stop presenting an abutment face at substantially a right angle to said jamb face, keeper means on the inner face of said jamb adjacent the abutment face of said stop, a lock guard, said lock guard including an elongated blocking flange overlying said abutment face adjacent said keeper means, an elongated recess defined in said jamb face substantially coplanar with the abutment face of said closure stop, a full length portion of said blocking flange extending laterally into said recess, and an elongated mounting flange generally coextensive with said blocking flange, said mounting flange overlying the inner face of said jamb and having one edge thereof integrally fixed to said blocking flange at right angles thereto, said mounting flange including an enlarged central recess receiving said keeper means therein, said recess being defined by full width apertured portions at the opposite ends of said mounting flange and a reduced rib integral with said blocking flange and extending between said full width portions, said jamb inner face and said stop abutment face being recessed and accommodate the mounting and blocking flanges therein so as to present outer flange faces coplanar with the jamb inner face and stop abutment face, said blocking flange being of a constant thickness throughout the width thereof and projecting different distances beyond the opposite faces of said mounting flange so as todefine a pair of generally rectangular different width blocking flange portions which enable a reversing of the guard for the accommodation of different thickness stops.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS RICHARD E. MOORE, Primary Examiner. 

